Are You at Risk for Workaholism?

When I was assigned the topic of
workaholism for this column, I knew
immediately who to turn to. My close
friend just happens to be a successful
senior executive for a Bay Area consulting
firm. He's also a consummate workaholic
and one of the savviest professionals
I know.

"It's how you get ahead that
matters," he says. "Working
late, putting in the extra time, getting
things done, making a difference.
It's the quickest way to the top."

For this story, he prefers to remain
anonymous. Let's call him "Steve".
Despite all Steve's career and financial
success, I wouldn't trade places with
him. To me, the cost of all that achievement
is too high, and the work/life balance
is-to put it mildly-out of whack.

Out of Control

As Steve has climbed the career ladder,
he's left other important parts of
his life behind.

Here's just one example: Back in
college he was an avid skier, but
he hasn't been on a mountain in years,
even though his college buddies make
an annual trip to a Colorado resort.
"It's too hard to get away from
work," he complains.

His weekly pick-up basketball games
are a thing of the past as well. And
Steve has remained single since a
brief marriage ended nearly 10 years
ago.

To be certain, Steve has also enjoyed
plenty of highlights in his life thanks
to his career successes. But at what
cost? I believe sacrificing a vital
emotional, physical and personal life
is not the only pathway to success-and
it's definitely not a healthy one.

Striking a balance between your work
and your personal life is a very important
way to define success. And as you're
starting out in your career, it's
important to keep a life outside of
work. Remember, everything in moderation.

Are You at Risk?

For some of you, this is a non-issue.
I remember when I graduated from college
and started work; hanging onto my
social life wasn't problem!

But for plenty of you, as you start
your career, you will have to re-examine
the balance between your personal
life and your professional life. If
you're feeling consumed by work, ask
yourself a few questions. According
to Workaholics Anonymous (www.workaholics-anonymous.org),
you show signs of being a workaholic
if you answer yes to any of the following
questions:

Do you get more excited about
your work than about family or anything
else?

Are there times when you can charge
through your work and other times
when you can't?

Do you take work with you to bed?
On weekends? On vacation?

Is work the activity you like to
do best and talk about most?

Do you work more than 40 hours
a week?

Do you turn your hobbies into moneymaking
ventures?

Do you take complete responsibility
for the outcome of your work efforts?

Have your family or friends given
up expecting you on time?

Do you take on extra work because
you are concerned that it won't otherwise
get done?

Do you underestimate how long
a project will take and then rush
to complete it?

Do you believe that it is OK to
work long hours if you love what you
are doing?

Do you get impatient with people
who have other priorities besides
work?

Are you afraid that if you don't
work hard you will lose your job or
be a failure?

Is the future a constant worry
for you even when things are going
very well?

Do you do things energetically
and competitively, including play?

Do you get irritated when people
ask you to stop doing your work in
order to do something else?

Have your long hours hurt your
family or other relationships?

Do you think about your work while
driving, falling asleep or when others
are talking?

Do you work or read during meals?

Do you believe that more money
will solve the other problems in your
life?

If you find yourself answering "yes"
to these questions, remember that
you are not alone. In a 2004 survey
conducted by Harris Interactive for
the travel Web site Expedia.com, nearly
40% of workers had either cancelled
or postponed vacations because of
work. And, startlingly, 10% said that
they believed using all of their vacation
time would make them look bad in their
boss's eyes.

Working Right

If you find yourself slipping into
workaholism, there are simple steps
you can take to remedy the situation.
Make time away from work with your
friends and family doing activities
you enjoy or just relaxing. If you're
regularly working more than five days
a week, schedule a long weekend. You
can take a vacation or even just do
things around your own city that you
like to do. Just make sure you don't
turn on your laptop or answer work-related
phone calls!

Here are a few other helpful suggestions
to keeping workaholism at bay:

Find a hobby.

Keep a regular sleep schedule.

If you have a family, keep a
standing dinner or play "date"
with them.

Stay active outside of work.
Exercise and eat right.

In Recovery

Workaholics Anonymous offers a 12-step
recovery program similar to programs
often recommended for other addictions.
But, like any addiction, you first
have to admit that you have a problem,
and then seek help. If you don't,
however, the work cycle can be never-ending.

Though he is admittedly a workaholic,
Steve has never sought help for his
addiction. "I'm happy,"
he says, "This is what I've always
wanted."